Strawberry plant named ‘BARAK’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘BARAK’. This new strawberry plant named ‘BARAK’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions of the Sharon coastal plain, at 32° latitude, located in Israel, and is primarily characterized by high quality fruit with an attractive brilliant appearance, regular consistent conical shape, high total soluble solids, long shelf-life and fruit appearing out of the canopy facilitating harvest.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:Fragaria×ananassa Duch. (Fragaria L.).

Variety denomination: ‘BARAK’.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(f) of the IsraeliPlant Breeders' Rights Application No. 4223/09 filed Oct. 29, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘BARAK’. The variety is botanically known as Fragaria×ananassaDuch.

The new strawberry ‘BARAK’ is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventors, Nir DAI, Zecharia TANAMI, Sara SLOTZKY andAhuva DAOS in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The objective of the breeding programwas to develop high quality fruit with high eating qualities and longshelf life.

This new strawberry ‘BARAK’ is a result of a controlled cross made bythe inventors in 2004, in a greenhouse in Bet-Dagan, Israel. The femaleor seed parent is the strawberry variety designated ‘TAMIR’ (U.S. PlantPat. No. 20,647, granted Jan. 19, 2010, Israel PBR (plant breeders'rights) application No. 4029/07 filed Oct. 04, 2007, European CommunityPBR application No. 2008/2105 filed 24 Sep. 2008, South Africa PBRapplication No. PT 5701, filed Jun. 5, 2009). The male or pollen parentis strawberry breeding line designated ‘ARO 730’, selected in ARObreeding program, Israel. The new strawberry ‘BARAK’ was observed andselected by the inventors as a single plant within the progeny of thestated cross in April of 2006, in an experimental greenhouse inBet-Dagan, Israel. After its selection, the new variety was asexuallypropagated by stolons (runners) in a nursery located in Bet-Dagan,Israel. The new variety ‘BARAK’ was intensively tested over thefollowing years in a few small trial plots in Moshav Tsofit, Kadima andQalansawa, Israel. This propagation has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexualpropagation. The new variety propagates true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘BARAK’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe Sharon Coastal Plain, at 32° latitude, located in Israel and tosimilar climatic regions. This region provides suitable growingconditions in autumn with high temperatures that promote initial plantgrowth and early fruit production, mild winter with moderatetemperatures and many sunny days with low humidity, maintaining plantvigor and fruit quality during fruit production months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe characteristics of ‘BARAK’, which in combination distinguishes thisstrawberry plant as a new, unique and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Very uniform consistent conical fruit shape and size, without        fruit malformation;    -   2. Excellent fruit firmness with excellent shelf-life;    -   3. Glossy deep red external color and deep red internal color;    -   4. Juicy fruit with desirable flavor;    -   5. Early fruit production from the end of November in Israel;    -   6. No chilling requirement for flower induction;    -   7. Moderate plant size with open, globose appearance;    -   8. Long fruiting trusses makes picking easier;    -   9. Large number of runners (stolons) production in the        propagation nursery;    -   10. Good field tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘BARAK’ differs from the femaleparent ‘TAMIR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,647 granted Jan. 19, 2010, IsraelPBR (plant breeders' rights) application No. 4029/07 filed Oct. 4, 2007,European Community PBR application No. 2008/2105 filed 24 Sep. 2008,South Africa PBR application No. PT 5701 filed Jun. 5, 2009) and fromthe male parent ARO breeding selection ‘ARO 730’ in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 ‘TAMIR’ Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Registered ‘ARO 730’ Averagefruit 21 gram 22 gram 22 gram weight (gm) Unevenness of Absent Absent orWeak fruit surface very weak Insertion of achenes moderately sunkenLevel with Level with surface surface Attitude of calyx slightlyreflexed Clasping or Clasping or detached detached Firmness of the fruitFirm Firm Vary firm Plant size Medium Medium Large Average number Verymany Few Many of stolons Foliage color Medium Medium Medium (uppersurface) to dark to dark Fruit color Red to dark red Orange-red Dark redVigor medium to strong Medium Strong Inflorescence position Above Levelwith Level with relative to foliage

Of the numerous commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar to the new strawberry variety ‘BARAK’ is the commercialstrawberry variety ‘YAEL’ (registered for PBR in Israel, no. 1542,September 1996). Plants of the new strawberry variety ‘BARAK’ differfrom plants of strawberry variety ‘YAEL’ in the characteristicsdescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 ‘YAEL’ Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Registered Average fruit weight(gm) 21 gram 23 gram Insertion of achenes moderately sunken Belowsurface Attitude of calyx slightly reflexed Clasping or detachedFirmness of the fruit Firm Firm Plant size Medium Large Average numberof stolons Very many Many Fruit color Red to dark red Red to dark redSweetness Strong Medium Foliage color Dark green Green Inflorescenceposition Above Level with relative to foliage

For identification, a series of molecular markers have been developed.The genetic polymorphic pattern of two Cleavage Amplified PolymorphicSequence (CAPS) markers (A. MSR-AluI and B. APX- MluI (Kunihisa et al.,2003) that differ between the new strawberry variety ‘BARAK’ and themain commercial Israeli strawberry varieties, as well as, other widelyknown strawberry varieties is shown in FIG. 7.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘BARAK’, at variousstages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical description which accuratelydescribes the color of ‘BARAK’. The depicted plant and plant parts ofthe new strawberry variety ‘BARAK’ were taken in Moshav Tsofit andVolcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel, at the age of 3 months after plantingin September.

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘BARAK’ taken inMoshav Tsofit in January of 2009.

FIG. 2A shows a close-up view of the typical leaf of ‘BARAK’ taken inVolcani Center, Bet Dagan in June of 2010.

FIG. 2B shows unique heat sensitivity symptoms of ‘BARAK’ leaves, athigh temperatures during the Israeli summer (July-September) taken inMoshav Tsofit in July of 2010.

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature fruit of ‘BARAK’ taken inMoshav Tsofit in March of 2009.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up external and internal view of mature fruit of‘BARAK’ taken in Moshav Tsofit in March of 2009.

FIG. 5 shows typical fruit shape and other characteristics of ‘BARAK’taken in Moshav Tsofit in March of 2009.

FIG. 6. Shows the average maximum and minimum temperatures (° C.) andrainfall at the location where observations were made.

FIG. 7. Shows the genetic polymorphic pattern of ‘BARAK’ (right line) incomparison to 11 other strawberry accessions at two CAPS markers: A.MSR-AluI and B. APX- MluI, (following Kunisha et al, 2003).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘BARAK’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail,depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new strawberryvariety ‘BARAK’, unless otherwise noted, taken during the winter of thegrowing season 2008-2009 in Moshav Tsofit Israel. The observations,measurements and values were taken from plants of ‘BARAK’ dug from alow-elevation nursery located in Moshav Tsofit, Israel, duringSeptember, 2008 and planted directly, without any chilling, on the sameday, in the field in Moshav Tsofit, Israel. Plants of the new strawberryvariety ‘BARAK’ were grown under conditions which closely approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

Growing conditions at the nursery:

Mother plants provided from an authorized nursery are planted in thebeginning of May, in the nursery at 2.5 m×2.5 m distance. Combination ofoverhead and drip irrigation with addition of fertilizers is used. Theaverage day/night temperatures during the establishment of the daughterplants, between June to August, are 29° C./22° C. Runners appear fromJune, which produce young daughter plants up till mid September. Theseare then collected and planted directly in the field.

Growing conditions at the fruit production field as is typically used inagricultural practice.

The plants are washed from soil and dipped in Octav (Prochlorazmanganese) 2 g/Liter solution to avoid anthracnose. These bare rootedplants are then planted in raised beds with overhead irrigation in 4rows at 30 cm apart. Distance between plants within rows is 32 cm.During the first month, no fertilizers are added, due to the addition of60-100 m³/ hectare compost during field preparation. About 4 weeks afterplanting the beds are covered with silvery-black, 30 micronpolyethylene. The young plants are pulled out through the pre-preparedholes. From this point on, the plants are irrigated with a drip systemwith a supply of additional fertilizers, as is typically used inagricultural practice. By the end of October the beds are covered withtransparent, 80 micron thick polyethylene tunnels. The average day (max)and night (minimum) temperatures during the cultivation season are shownin FIG. 6.

During winter in Israel, most days have full sunlight and only anaverage of 82 rainy days from August to June, producing about 520 mmprecipitation. The fields are not treated with growth regulators andregularly are irrigated and fertilized according to need during fruitproduction.

Yield observations and fruit quality characteristics are averaged from 2years of data collected from the 2008 to 2009 and 2009 to 2010 growingseasons. Flower measurements and characteristics are from secondaryflowers unless otherwise noted. Fruit characteristics and measurementsare from secondary fruit unless otherwise noted.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.) (year of edition 1986), except where general colors ofordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylightconditions between 10:00 a.m. to noon in Bet-Dagan, Israel. Theapproximate age of the observed plants is 4 to 6 months.

The following Tables 3 to 9 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage,fruiting truss, flower and pest/disease characteristics of the newstrawberry ‘BARAK’.

TABLE 3 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Difference inshapes between Slight primary and secondary flowers Length 55-67 mmMaximum diameter 34-41 mm Ratio of length/maximum width Much longer thanbroad Weight 19-24 g, 21 g average Size Medium to large Predominantshape Conical Primary secondary and tertiary No difference in shape forall fruit three positions Band without achenes Medium broad (not mediumto broad) Unevenness of surface Even Color Dark red RHS 45 A Evenness ofcolor Even Glossiness Strong Insertion of achenes Moderately sunkenInsertion of calyx At level Color of achenes Light yellow green RHS 145B Density of achenes Medium to dense Weight of achenes Not recodedNumber of achenes Number 280-420 Pose of the calyx segments Slightlyreflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit Larger diameter Length ofcalyx segment 24-30 mm Width of calyx segment 14-18 mm Color of upperside of calyx Light green 137 C segment Color of lower side of calyxDark green RHS 137 A segment Adherence of calyx Very strong FirmnessFirm Color of flesh Medium red RHS 45 C Evenness of color of flesh EvenSweetness Strong Acidity Weak Marketable yield (gm/pit) Monthly yieldYear analyzed: 2008-2009 2009-2010 November  8 gram/plant  29 gram/plantDecember 143 gram/plant  48 gram/plant January 130 gram/plant 145gram/plant February 246 gram/plant 309 gram/plant March 217gram/plant245 gram/plant Total: 744 gram/plant 776 gram/plant

TABLE 4 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Habit GloboseHeight About 35 cm Diameter About 40-45 cm Density Medium Vigor Mediumto strong Time of flowering Early Time of ripening Early Type of bearingPartly remontant

TABLE 5 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Number NumerousAnthocyanin coloration Weak Thickness 2-4 mm Pubescence Medium to strongGreen color Light green RHS 144 C

TABLE 6 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Leaf Green colorof upper side Dark RHS 137 A Green color of lower side Grey green RHS138 B Length 20-24 cm Width 14-16 cm Cross section Concave BlisteringMedium Number of leaflets Sometimes more than three Terminal leafletLength  7-9 cm Width  7-9 cm Ratio length/width As long as broad Shapeof base Rounded Shape of teeth Rounded Side leaflet Length  7-8.5 cmWidth  7-10 cm Ratio length/width Broader than long Shape of base Rightangle Petiole Pose of hairs Outwards Length  9-17 cm Thickness About 3mm Green color Yellow green RHS 144 C Anthocyanin coloration Absent orvery weak Stipule Length 18-25 mm Width  5-8 mm Anthocyanin colorationAbsent or very weak Green color Light yellow green RHS 144 D inner andouter side

TABLE 7 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ AttitudeProstrate Thickness 2-3 mm Green color Yellow green RHS 144 C PubescenceMedium dense

TABLE 8 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ InflorescencePosition relative to foliage Above Attitude Prostrate Flower Diameter32-36 mm Size of calyx relative to corolla Same size Size of inner calyxrelative to Smaller outer calyx Spacing of petals Touching Length ofsepal 13-18 mm Width of sepal  9-13 mm Green color of upper side ofsepal Light green 137 C Green color of lower side of outer Medium greenRHS 138 B whorl of sepal flower base Pubescence Strongly pubescentflower base Color Yellow green RHS 1 A Petal Length 11-15 mm Width 12-15mm Shape Broader than long Color of upper side White RHS 155 A Color oflower side White RHS 155 A

TABLE 9 REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Stamen Number perflower Numerous Length About 2-4 mm Filament Length About 2-4 mm ColorLight yellow green RHS 145 C Anther Length About 0.1 mm Pollen AmountModerate Color Dark yellow RHS 14 A Pistils Number per flower NumerousShape Too small to observe Length Too small to observe Stigma Length Toosmall to observe Color Too small to observe Style Color Too small toobserve

TABLE 10 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS Characteristic ‘BARAK’ Two spottedspider mite No testing/observations Lygus bug No testing/observationsFlower thrips No testing/observations Powdery mildew moderately tolerantBotrytis fruit rot moderately tolerant Angular leaf spot Notesting/observations

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct strawberry variety named ‘BARAK’, asillustrated and described herein.